The Aporia · Winemaker Chapel Down lifts profit guidance amid strong millennial demand

Winemaker Chapel Down lifts profit guidance amid strong millennial demand

Read the original at Evening Standard ↗

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Saker-Clark, H. (2026, September 23). Winemaker Chapel Down lifts profit guidance amid strong millennial demand. Evening Standard. https://www.standard.co.uk/business/business-news/kent-english-press-association-chapel-down-shares-b1298082.html

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Quick Summary

Chapel Down, a Kent-based winemaker, reported a 19% increase in net sales to £9.4 million for the half-year ending June 30, driven by growth in both retail and hospitality sectors, with international sales surging 66%. The company attributed its success to strong demand from millennials and increased listings at high-profile venues like those operated by The Gordon Ramsay Group and Handpicked Hotels. Chapel Down also raised its profit guidance for the year, expecting earnings to exceed market expectations and net debt to be lower than predicted due to reduced capital spending.

Written by AI on 2026-09-23, from this article's own text only (the story summary below draws on all the coverage).

AI analysis

Story summary

Chapel Down, a winemaker based in Kent, has lifted its profit guidance due to strong demand, particularly from millennials. The company reported that net sales grew by 19% to £9.4 million in the first half of 2023 compared to the same period last year. International sales surged by 66%, driven mainly by growth in the US market. Chapel Down attributes this success partly to increased listings from notable hospitality groups like The Gordon Ramsay Group and Handpicked Hotels, which has led to more venues selling its wine by the glass.

The winemaker also highlighted a "high-quality" harvest due to favorable warm temperatures in the UK that have left their vines in good condition. Chapel Down now predicts adjusted earnings will be significantly ahead of market expectations for the remainder of 2023, partly because capital spending was lower than initially anticipated, leading to lower net debt levels than expected. Additionally, the firm expressed confidence about its 2026 vintage quality after harvesting more than half of this year's grape crop.

Written for “Winemaker Profit Boost From Millennials” on 2026-10-30, grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.

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Uncertain

0 of 9 hedged ("reportedly", "may", "according to")

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not political

takes no side on a contested political question

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65/100

Evening Standard's corrections and hedging, across everything collected from it. Not a measure of accuracy.

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articles that frame the event the way this one does

Who wrote this

Henry Saker-Clark

88 article(s) here · 1 carrying a prediction

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2026-10-23 · assertive framing · UK retail sales drop after warm weather hits winter clothing demand

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2026-10-23 · assertive framing · UK retail sales drop after warm weather hits winter clothing demand

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2026-10-23 · assertive framing · UK retail sales drop after warm weather hits winter clothing demand

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Also by Henry Saker-Clark

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2026-10-30 · Evening Standard

UK business activity grows at fastest pace for eight months

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UK retail sales drop after warm weather hits winter clothing demand

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UK retail sales drop after warm weather hits winter clothing demand

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Nothing else under this byline is closely related to this article, so these are simply their most recent.

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Narrative

Claims (9 extracted, 0 hedged)

It came as the Kent-based company cheered a “high-quality” harvest so far this year as it benefited from warm temperatures in the UK. asserted

it → come → UK

Chapel Down told shareholders that net sales grew by 19% to £9.4 million in the half-year to June 30, compared with a year earlier. asserted

sales → tell → June

It said this benefited from growth in both retail and hospitality venues, while international sales jumped 66% on the back of growth in the US. asserted

sales → say → US

The firm saw growth supported by more venues selling its wine by the glass, as well as new listings from operators including The Gordon Ramsay Group and Handpicked Hotels. asserted

firm → see → Group

Chapel Down said that it saw a “continued strong performance” in the third quarter of the year and has “confidence” in its trading plans for the final three months of the year. asserted

it → say → year

As a result, it said adjusted earnings are now on track “to be materially ahead of market expectations”. asserted

earnings → say → expectations

Meanwhile, net debt is also expected to be lower than market predictions after capital spending was lower than originally expected. asserted

spending → expect → predictions

The company also said it believes its 2026 vintage will be “high quality” after completing more than half of its grape harvest for the year. asserted

vintage → say → year

Read More Mr Pennefather said: “The English region is coming into a multi-decade period of good temperatures for our vines, which were still green and in good condition after very little rain.” asserted

which → read → rain

Winemaker Chapel Down lifts profit guidance amid strong millennial demand

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Claims (9 extracted, 0 hedged)